Psalms 55

David being in danger to be surrounded and surprised, complains to God of his distress, and doth very anxiously pray for the frustrating of the practises of his Enemies, whose cruelty, falsehood and perfidiousness (especially of one of them) he represents to God, withal prophecying of their destruction, and assuring himself of Gods having heard him, strengthens both himself and all believers with confidence in God, that serves the godly and destroys the wicked.

1. An instruction of David, [As on the foregoing Psalm] for the chief song-master on Neginoth.

2. O God, take my prayer to ears: and hide thee not from my supplication.

3. Observe me, and hear me: I commit mis-behaving in my complaint, [Or painful, panged prayer, implying that the calling to mind of all his troubles and dangers, made him restless and groaning, or crying out in his prayer] and make stir. [or noise, rumour, tumult.]

4. Because of the cry of the Enemy, [Heb. Voice, that is the rumours and noise which mine Enemies do spread abroad, that they will encompass me on all sides, and ruine me. Compare 2 Sam.17.v.11,12,13,14,21,24.] for the distress sake of the wicked [which he doth put me to] for they devolve iniquity; upon me, [or for the falsehood, inquiry, wrong, i.e. they charge me with lies, spreading all manner of base reports and practises of me, whereby I should have haled and deserve all this trouble and suffering upon my self] and in wrath they hate me.

5. Mine heart smarteth in the inmost of me, [i.e. endures pains and pangs, like a woman in travel] and terrors of death [or deadly terrors] are fallen upon me.

6. Fear and trembling comes upon me, and horror covereth me.

7. So that I say; ah that any gave me [Heb. Who shall give me, according to the usual manner of wishing with the Hebrews, as above Psa.14.7. and 53.7. See Deut.5.on v.29.] wings, [Heb. A wing, or feather, i.e. wings here as appears by the sequel] as of a Dove; [a silly and timorous Creature, that seeks to shelter it self in deserts and holes. See Jer.48.v.28.] I should fly away, where I might abide. [Heb. And should abide, or dwell, meaning, he would retire himself any where, where he might but safe and secure.]

8. Loe! I should swarve far away, [Heb. Make me far away, swarve, i.e. remove far from hence, wandering any where, so I might get off, were it never so far. See of the like joining two Verbs Psa.45.on v.5.] I should harbour (or sojourn, or lodge) in the wilderness. Sela. [Psa.3.3.]

9. I should make hast to escape; [Heb. I should hasten the escaping for me, or haste me the escape] from the driving wind, from the storm. [Heb. Wind of the driving, or of the storm of the assault, i.e. from this persecution, which comes so suddenly upon me, or threatens to hurry me away, as a stormy wind doth force and carry all along before it. Compare 2 Sam.15.v.14. and 17.21.]

10. Swallow them up Lord, divide their tongue, [i.e. their speech. This swallowing and dividing of the speech seems to reject upon the judgements of God, which he did execute upon the builders of the Tower of Babel, and the company of Korah, Gen.11.7,8. Num.16.32.] for I see violence (or force) and contention in the City [of Jerusalem, and some do understand it, apply this Psalm to the persecution of Absolom, when (upon Davids sudden flight thence) Absalom entered the same. Carrying things in an abominable manner, and consulting, how his Father might best of all be surprised and destroyed, wherein his Counsellors could not agree, God dividing their tongues or votings, 2 Sam.17.14. according to Davids prayer here, and 2 Sam.15.31. Others understand it of Gibea Sauls, where Saul did keep his Court (Compare Psa.59.7.) or not just of such or such a City in particular, but in general of the boundless impiety and iniquity, which was frequently and abounding every where, even in the Cities themselves, where there should be most order.]

11. Day and night they compass her upon her walls, [i.e. violence and contention do compass the City: or they, the wicked go round about her (the City) i.e. they run every where about, to practise all manner of evil and mischief, or for to entrap or seize me] and iniquity and oppression is within her.

12. Nothing but destruction [Heb. Corruptions, i.e. nothing but abuse, all manner of vallany, hurt, mischief, oppression] is within her (or inwardly in her) and subtilty and deceit withdraws not from her street.

13. For it is no Enemy, [Understand no open Enemy for (would he say) had it been an open and professed Enemy, it should not seem so strange unto, nor prove so untolerable of me] (that reproacheth me, else I should else have hid my self before him [might have been able to stand upon my guard against him, or to eschew, escaped, avoid him.]

14. But thou art he O man, as of my worthiness [Heb. According to my valuation, or worth, esteem, i.e. one like my self, esteemed or reputed me equal, or whom I was wont to court as my self. Oth. Of my order, i.e. of my estate, condition and quality. Some do hereby understand Achitophel, whose repute, both in general and in particular with David, see 2 Sam.16.23. wherefore also (when he had joined with Absalom) David was advertised particularly him, being it was not onely a very strange, unexpected, and persidious act of his, but of that nature also (in regard of Achitophels excellent parts and abilities) that it behoved David, to take singular notice and warning by it. Such as apply this Psalm to Sauls time, understand Abner in this place, or some other chieftain or counsellor of war belonging to Saul.] my lead, [or chiefest friend, conductor, director and governor of my affairs, See Prov.6.28. and 7.9. Mich.7.5.] and my acquaintance; (or, known).

15. Who were sweetly consulting together in private: [Heb. Made the counsel of hiddeness (the hidden or private counsel) sweet] we walked together in company to the house of God. [or, with the gathering company, (Psalms 42:5.) See of the Hebrew word, Psalm.2.1. on v.1. implying, that they were tied and engaged one to another, not onely by the bond of civil affairs, friendship and communion, but also by the strongest tie of all, that of religion.]

16. Let death [Or death shall] surprise them as a debt-summoner, that they go down to hell alive, [i.e. (Let them perish suddenly and terribly. See above on v.10. This David speaketh inspired by a Prophetical spirit, and zeal of the Lord] for wickednesses are in their dwelling, [in the place of their abode, or company, conversation] in the inmost of them.

17. As for me, I will call upon God, and the LORD shall deliver me.

18. At evening and morning, and noon day, will I complain and make a noise: [Compare Dan.6.10. and Acts 3:1. and 10.3.9,30. Implying that he shall not cease, nor be tired, but importune, and molest God as it were with his daily prayer, (the usual seasons whereof, he here expresseth.) See Luke 18.v.1.&c.] and he shall hear my voice.]

19. He hath redeemed my soul in peace, [i.e. he hath delivered my life out of danger, and set me in peace. This may have regard to some former deliverances, or be a believing and prophetical declaration of the assuredness he with in this Book] from the combat against me: [wherewith they had or would have fallen upon and defeated me] for with multitudes have they been against me.] Heb. In (or with among) many (or great mighty ones) have they been against (or with) me: for the Hebrew word can be applied either to friends or to enemies, and both do yield a good sence. As Davids enemies were many, so had he on the otherside the hoste and multitude of the holy Angels with him. Compare Psalms 34:8. and 57.4.2. Kings 6.16. yet in the sequel David speaks expressly of his enemies.]

20. God shall hear, and shall plague them, as be that sitteth of old; [viz. As Judge from the beginning. Compare Psalms 93:2.] Sela! [see Psalm 3.on v.3.] because there is no alteration at all with them, [Heb. No alterations, mend not in the least point.] and they fear not God.

21. He [i.e. every one of those wicked wretches, or the chiefest of them, who is soon followed by the rest] layeth (or stretcheth out, reacheth forth) his hands against those that had peace with him. [or against his allies, peace-partners, fellow covenanters.] Compare Psalm.7.5. and 41.10. and above 13.15. to them he doth all the wrong and mischief he can, not caring how he violates those relations, and not sparing to take away their very lives. See Gen.37.on v.22.] he doth prophane his Covenant. [that which he made and confirmed by a solemn oath, and consequently with calling on the sacred Name of God in witness and vindication, the same he breaketh and violateth without remorse.]

22. His mouth [i.e. the word of his mouth; wherefore also the annexed Hebrew word in the construction, is of the plural number, are smoother, &c] is smoother then butter; [or then if they were buttery, or buttered; others, They make their mouth smooth, or they soften their mouths (like) butter; others, they make their mouth smoother then butter, or (the words) of his mouth are smooth like butter] but his heart is war; [i.e. full of war, or fighting and slaying; their mind is wholly set and bent to assault and defeat me.] His words are softer then oyle, but the same are naked swords. [Heb. Opened drawn, that is to say, they are mortally wounding, they do but seek by them how to destroy me. Compare Prov.12.18. and Psalm.57.5.]

23. Cast [David speaketh here unto himself, and to every believer] thy care upon the LORD, [Heb. Thy gift, or giving, that is to say, In all thy taking thought, and care, (as the Apostle Peter doth use this word,] 1. Pet.5.7.) when thou wouldest that this or that should be given thee, considering of such gifts according to the exigency of thy want and necessity; do but recommend it all unto thy heavenly Father, and he shall give thee what is saving for thee; or thy gift; that is, whatsoever the LORD doth give and send thee, what comes upon thee from his hand; cast thou the same again on him with assured confidence, that he will unburden, ease, relieve, and give these such an issue, as shall conduce to his glory and thy salvation. Compare Psalm 22.on v.9. Others, thy pack, or hurthen; yet this signification is not found in the Scripture] and he shall maintain thee: [or feed thee according as the Hebrew word is used elsewhere. See Ruth 4.on v.15.] he shall not permit in eternity, that the righteous do water (or shake,) [Heb. He shall not permit in eternity the shaking, the, (or, of the, or for the) righteous. Comp.Psal.15.on v.5.]

24. But thou O God, shalt cause those [viz. The wicked aforesaid] to descend into the pit of destruction; the men of blood [See Psalm.5.on v.7.] and deceit shall not bring their days to the moity: [Hebr. Shall not half their days. That is to say, they shall die an untimely death, comp.Job.15.32. and 22.16. and below, Psal.58.9,10. And 102.24,25. Prov.10, etc. Eccl.7.18.]